Curtain-fixture



(No Model'.)

W. P. PUTNAM.

CURTAIN FIXTURE.

Patented June 19, 1883.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WENDELL P. PUTNAM, OF VVATERTOWN, MASSACHUSETTS.

CURTAIN-FIXTURE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 279,801, dated June 19, 1888. Application filed May 1,1883. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that .I, WENDELL P. PUTNAM, a citizen of the United States, residing at VVatertown, inthe county of Middlesex and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Curtain-Fixtures; and I do hereby declare that the same are fully described in the following specification and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

The object of this invention is to provide for spring-balance curtain-rollers a simple and efficient locking device adapted to lock the spindle and roller together when they are removed from the brackets, and thus retain the tension of the spring in readiness for use when again mounted in the brackets.

The present improvement consists in a sliding link loosely mounted on a cam-shapedprojection extending radially from the spindle, so that the quick rotary impulse imparted by the spring to the spindle when removed from the bracket will wedge the link between said cam and the inner wall of the tubular roller or its end cap. The link is placed astride of a prong which, like the cam, forms part of a radial collar on the spindle, cut away to allow of the required movements of the link.

The drawings represent, in Figure 1, atrans verse section of the spindle and roller adjacent to the lock, showing the lock dormant, with the parts in the position they occupywhen the roller is mounted for use. Fig. 2 is alike view. of the parts in their lockedposition. Fig. 3 is a top view of the spindle and link, and Fig. 4 shows the parts in perspective detached.

The roller has an end cap, B, which closes its outer end and forms its bearing. Both revolve about the spindle C, which is held by the bracket a given side up, that the locking device may lie dormant during use of the shade and roller, and be in position for use instantly when they are taken down from the brackets. The spring D is within the roller, surrounding the spindle, and is secured at one end to the spindle and at the other to the roller-cap, so as to increase its tension when the shade is drawn down and to relax it when raised. Upon the spindle, within the roller or its cap, there is a radial collar, formed with a periph eral cam, F, and a prong, G, upon which is placed the sliding link H, loosely mounted, so as to surround said prong and have a limited endwise movement on the ca1n-surfaee F. This movement occurs and effects the locking of the roller and spindletogether when the latterflies on being released from the bracket, the upper end of the link being thrust into the narrowing space between the cam F and the interior of the roller-cap. The reaction of the spring tends to lift the other end of the link also into contact with the wall of the spring-chamber. (See Fig. 2.) The normal position of the parts of the look when the roller is mounted for use will be readilyunderstood by an examination of Figs. 1 and 3. The link H lies dormant upon the upper edge of the radial collar, but in such position as to permit rotation of the roller in either direction without touching it. The prong G, projecting through the link, keeps it in place, ready to act with the cam as a lock the instant the spindle is released. The upper end of this prong also serves as a bearing for the interior of the roller in case the central aperture at the end of the cap becomes worn away by use.

I claim as my invcntion- As a locking device for spring-balance curtain-rollers, the spindle 0, bearing the cam F and prong G, in combination with the link H, loosely mounted thereon, substantially as set forth. a

In testimony whereof 1 hereto affix my signa ture in presence of two witnesses.

WENDELL P. PUTNAM. \Vitnesses:

A. H. SPENCER,

O. G. KEYEs. 

